Don't Be Blind to Eye Injuries

July 2008

As the launch of Fourth of July fireworks approaches, concern about eye injuries increases. A recent report has found, however, that it is more likely for accidents resulting in eye injuries to occur during routine activities done in the home.

The Eye Injury Snapshot, conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, examined 765 eye injuries reported by 775 doctors during a two-week period. The study found that nearly half of reported eye injuries occurred in the home during repairs, cooking, and cleaning. The most common location for an injury to occur was in the yard or garden, and almost 15 percent of injuries led to moderate or severe damage, including vision loss.

Half of the people surveyed reported wearing protective eyewear during home maintenance or yard work. According to the academy, doing so can protect against 90 percent of eye injuries. There are approximately 1500 fireworks-related eye injuries each year, accounting for about one percent of all eye injuries.